Electric water heater



Dec, 1l, 1934. E. L, MoNNoT ELECTRIC WATER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet lFilled Jan. 6, 1933 flllllllllllllf E Jl/011110! N R m MA YV B .w m A941.2d 6 M8 q 4 7 5 1 Q4 Dec. 1l, 1934. E. l.. MoNNoT ELECTRIC WATERHEATER Filed Jan. 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR R BY ./l/a/mo 9;ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC WATER HEATEREdward L. Monnot, Canton, Ohio, assgnor to The Weber DentalManufacturing Canton, Ohio, a corporation' of Ohio Application January6,

2 Claims.

My invention relates in general to electric water heaters which are ofthe type wherein walls form a storage chamber for warm water, andwherein the water is maintained at a desired tem- `5i perature in thechamber, by means of a thermostatically controlled electric resistanceheating element; and in particular my invention relates to electricwater heaters which are adapted for use by dentists and the like forselectively supplying either warm or cold water directly to the watersyringes used by dentists in connection with dental operations in theoral cavity.

Such a water heater for such dental purposes is usually supported on adental unit or the like located closely adjacent the dental chair forconvenient use by the dentist, and should be leak proof in itself, andany or all valves andfittings associated therewithshould likewise beleak proof so that no water may drip or leak upon the dentists handsduring use of the heater or the water syringe with which it may beconnected, and also so that there shall be no dripping or leaking ofwater upon the patient either while in the chair or while approaching orleaving the chair.

From another standpoint, `such a dental water heater should berelatively compact so as to occupy a minimum volume of space, and thuspermit free movement of the dentists about and betweenthe chair and theunit.

From still another standpoint, such a dental water heater should be ofsimplified construction and arrangement permitting easy and economicalassembly and disassembly during manufacturing and maintenanceoperations, and in which each other in such manner as to provide `thedesired supply of warm water with a minimum consumption of current bythe electric resistance heating element.

No electric water heater has been generally available which has met Withcomplete satisfaction each and all of the above set forth desirablecharacteristics of electric water heaters for dental purposes.

l at the same time the parts are associated with Accordingly the objectsof the present inven-l Company,

1933, Serial No. 650,405

provide a high degree of thermal and electrical efficiency.r

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the improvements,apparatus, parts, combinations, and sub-combinations, which comprise thepresent invention, and the nature of which is set forth in thefollowingA general statement, and preferred embodiments of which,together with their mode of use are set'forth in the followingdescription, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed'out andset forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

'I'he nature of the improved electric water heater of the presentinvention may be described in general terms as including walls formingpreferably an integral and compact housing, some of the housing wallspreferably forming a storage chamber for water' and walls forming thestorage chamber preferably being provided with a lower opening, animproved closure and heat box forming member for the storage chamberopening, the closure being preferably removably seal mounted in thehousing across the storage chamber opening, and the closure preferablyincluding walls forming a downwardly opening heat box, anelectricresistance heating element, preferably removably fitting within the heatbox, and preferably coacting means on the heat box and heating elementfor releasably securingfthe heating element in the heat box.

Other of the housing walls preferably form a heat control chamber belowthe water storage chamber, and the walls forming the heat controlchamber preferably being provided with a lower opening, a closure memberpreferably fitting and being removably secured to the housing across theheat control chamber opening, a thermostatic electric switch locatedinthe heat control chamber, conductors operatively connecting theelectric heating element and the thermostatic switch and adapted forconnection with a source of electric power, whereby the temperaturewithin the heat control chamber serves to operate the thermostaticswitch so as to connect and disconnect the electric heating element withthe source of electric power when thetemperature within the heat controlchamber falls below or arises above predetermined lower and uppertemperatures within the heat control chamber, and consequently wherebythe temperatureof the water in the storage chamber preferably located asaforesaid above the heat control chamber may be maintained within apredetermined desired temperature range.

Others of the housing walls preferably form inlet and outlet ducts, theouter end of the inlet duct being adapted for communicating connectionwith a supply of water and the outer end of the outlet duct beingadapted for communicating connection preferably by means of a flexibletubing with a water syringe and the like, the housing walls moreoverhave preferably formed there-- in a by-pass duct communicatingdirectlybetween the inlet duct and preferably the upper end of the waterstorage chamber.

There is also preferably provided an inlet Water directing tube, theupper end of the water directing tube preferably comrnunicatinglycon-I.,

necting with the storage chamberend of the bypass duct, and the lowerend of theinletgwater directing tube preferably terminating and openingpreferably adjacent the closure and heat box forming member for thestorage chamber opening.

The housing walls furthermore have preferably formed therein anintermediate duct having one end 'communicating preferably with theupper for the lower end of the conical valve seat duct.,

A rotary frusta-conical valve stem rotatably fits and is preferablyspring pressed in sealing abutment with the frusto-conical valve seatduct, and the valve stem has formed transversely therein a plurality ofcentrally communicatingly connecting radial ducts, and the outer ends ofthe.

radialvalve stem ducts are adaptedfor selective connection with the endsof the inlet duct, the

outlet duct, and the intermediate duct terminating in the valve seatduct, whereby, byV rotation of the valve stem, the outlet duct may beentirely shut off from the water supply, or may be communicatinglyconnected directly either with the inlet duct for a supply of coldvwater," or with the intermediate duct for a supply of warm water.

The upperend of the improved rotary valve stem preferably extends abovethe Vhousing beyond the upper end'of the valve seat duct, and a` laltchkontrolled handle is preferably secured thereon.

Theimproved electric Water heater furthermore includes novel detailkconstruction andarrangement of the parts thereof as hereinafter setforth. y vPreferred embodiments of the improved electric water heaterand of `the parts thereof are.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in `whichy Figure V1 is a fragmentary verticalv sectional view as on line 1 1,Fig.A 2, and with other por` tions broken away and illustrated insection, of an embodiment of the'improved electric water heatingapparatus particularly adapted; -for dental use, in conjunction with aWater 'syringe not shown in Fig. 1 but shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary Vertical sectional View thereof as on line 2 2,Fig. l;

- Fig. 3,v a fragmentary horizontal sectional view thereof as on line 33, Fig. 1, the improved valve parts of the apparatus being illustratedinv their relative closed positions, shutting off communication betweenthe interior of the storage chamber and the outlet duct of theapparatus;

Fig. 4, a View similar to Fig. 3, in which the valve parts of theapparatus are illustrated in their relative positions simultaneouslypermitting the storage chamber to be maintained full of Water andpermitting a flow of Warm water from the storage chamber into the outletduct; n

Fig. 5, a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, and

. illustrating the valve parts of the apparatus in their relativepositions simultaneously permitting the storage chamber to be maintainedfull of Water and permitting a flow of cold water into the outlet ductof the apparatus;

Fig. 6, disassembled fragmentary and sectional views of certain parts ofthe apparatus,

and a side elevation View of a form of valve controlled syringe withwhich the apparatus may be connected, the views of Fig. 6, being reducedin size relative to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive;

Fig. '7, a top plan view looking in the direction of the arrows 7 7,Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a horizontal sectional View as on line 8 8, Fig. 6;

Fig. 9, a bottom plan View of the preferred improved closureand heat boxforming member, looking in the direction of the arrows 9 9, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10, a sectional View of the electrical parts of the apparatus as online 10 10, Fig. 6.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The improved electric heating apparatus is indicated generally by 10 inan embodiment particularly adapted for dental use and arranged toselectively supply warm or cold water to a dentalsyringe indicatedgenerally by l1, or to entirely shut off the Water supply from thesyringe 11. i

While the improved electric heating apparatus 10 is'particularly adapted'for dentaluse as aforesaid, it may be used when desired for heatingother iiuids which may be either liquids or gases.

The apparatus V10includes walls forming preferably an integral andrelatively compact housing indicated generallyby 12.

Some ofthe housing walls indicated generally by 13 form a fluid storagechamber 14 which is preferably cylindric as illustrated, and thelongitudinal axis ofthe cylindric chamber 14 is normally vertical inuse. Y

The storage chamber forming Walls 13 include alongitudinallyy extendingtubular wall 13 1, and a Wall 13 2 closes the normally upper end ofthewall 13 1.

Intermediate the ends of the wall 13 1, the storage chamberA formingwalls 13 include a partition wall 13 3 which is connected at its outerperiphery with the tubular Wall 13 1, and which has'formed therein anormally lower'preferably cylindric opening 15. Y

Inother words, as illustrated, the wall 13- is in the form of an annulariiange Wall having its outer periphery connecting with and integral withthe tubular Wall 13 1, and having its inner bore forming the normallylower storage chamber opening 15.

An improved combined closure and heat box forming member indicatedgenerally by 16-y is preferably removably seal mounted across the ingmember 16, as illustrated, includes alongi-` tudinally extending tubularwall 16-1, Whose diameter is substantially smaller than 'thedipluralityv of apertures 18 each registering with one of the internallythreaded bores 17: t

A A sealing gasket 19 is preferably interposed between the normallylower face of the flange wall 13--3 and the normally upper face of theVsealing and mounting flange y16--4, and the clo-` sure and heat boxforming member 16 is removably secured and seal mounted across thestorage chamber opening 15 by means` of a plurality of screws 20, theShanks of which extend keach through one set ofthe registered apertures18 and internally threaded bore 17 and through suitable apertures formedin the gasket 19, and the threaded inner ends of which are screwedV inthe bores 17 and the normally rupper faces of the heads of whichgabutand clamp against the flange 16-4.

The tubular wall 16-1 and closure wall 165-;-2`

of the member 16, form a-longitudina-lly extending cylindricY andnormally downwardly opening heat box 21 as illustrated, and in use, thetubular wall 16 extends within the heating chamber 14 a substantialdistance from the flange wall 13-3 so that the heat box end wall 16-2 issubstan tially midway between the storage chamber wall 13,-2 and thelflange wall 13-3.

A preferably cylindrically encased electric resistance heating element22 preferably removably fits within the downwardly opening heat box 21,and preferably coacting means are associated with the heat box walls and-with the heating element for releasably securing the heating element inthe heat box.

As illustrated the releasable coacting means for securing the heatingelement in the heat box, include a flange ring 23 secured at thenormally lower end of the'heating element 22 and extending radiallyoutwardly therefrom and having a notch 24 formed therein.

A tongue 25 extends from the inner surfaces of the frusto-conical wall16-3 Vand the tongue 25 has such dimensions as to clear the notch 24when the heating element 22 is longitudinally inserted into the heat box21 with the notch 24 alined with the tongue 25.

After the element 22 has been inserted completely into the heat box 21,the element 22 is partially rotated so as to locate the notch 24 out ofalinement with the tongue 25, whereby the tongue 25 overlaps the flange23 and releasably secures the heating element 22 within the heat box 21.

The tubular wall 13-1 includes a normally lower end portion 13-1 whichextends beyond the normally lower faces of the closure member 16, andforms with the closure member 16 a heat control chamber 26 having a,normally lower opening 27, and a closure member 28 preferably fitsacross the opening 27 and is secured to the wall portion 13-1, as bymeans of screws 29 whose shanks pass through suitable apertures in theclosure member 28 and which have threaded inner ends screwed intosuitable internally threaded bores 30 formed in the wall portions 13-1'and the external heads of the screws 29 clamping the closure member 28against the wall portions 13-1 in the usual manner.

A thermostatic electric switch indicated generally by 31 is locatedwithin the heat control chamber 26 and is preferably removably securedbelow the normallyv lower faces of the frustoconical mounting walll6--3, as by means of screws 32 whose threaded shanks are screwed intosuitable internally threaded bores 33 formed in the frusto-conical wall16'-3, and the heads of which screws 32 overlap a mounting plate 34 o`fthe thermostatic switch 31,

The electric heating AelementI 22 and the ther- Inostatic switch 3l areof usual construction, and conductorsindicated generally by 35operatively connect the electric heating element and the thermostaticswitch in a usual manner and are adapted for connection with a source ofelectric power, not shown, lwhereby the temperature within the heatcontrol'chamber 26 serves to operate 'the thermostatic switch 3`l so asto connect and disconnect the electric heating element with the sourceof`electric power when the temperature within the heat control chamber26 falls below or arises above predetermined lower and uppertemperatures, and consequently whereby the temperature of any liquidsuch as the usual water in the storage chamber 14, which is preferablylocated as aforesaid above the heat control chamber 26, may bemaintained within a predetermined desired temperature range.

The foregoing construction and arrangement of the closure and heat boxforming member 16 with respect to the storage chamber 14, with respectto the electric `resistance heating element 22 and the thermostaticswitch 31, and with respect to the heat control chamber 26, serves toattain a high degree` of electrical and thermal efliciency for theimproved heating apparatus 10.

i The housing 12 also includes other walls indicated generally by 36which have formed therein a novel arrangement of inlet, outlet, andby-pass ducts or openings for the storage chamber, as hereinafter setforth in detail, and the walls 36 also form part of and operativelymount a rotary selector valve indicated generally by 37 which visassociated with the several ducts formed in the walls 36.

As aforesaid, the walls 36 are preferably integral with the other wallsof the housing 12, and are preferably located at the normally upper endand at one' side of the tubular wall 131` The several ducts formed inthe walls 36 include an inlet duct 38, the outer end of which is adaptedfor communicating connection as by means of a coupling 39 with a supplyof water or other fluid, not shown, and the water or fluid having agravity, and/or pressure, and/or velocity head, whereby the storagechamber 14 is maintained full of water or other fluid at all times.

The ducts formed in the walls 36 also include an outlet duct 40, theouter end of which is adapted for communicating connection as by meansof a coupling 41 with one end of a flexible tubing 42, and the other endof the tubing 42 communicatingly connects with the Valve controledsyringe 11.

The ducts formed in the walls 36 also include a by-pass duct 43communicating directly between the inlet duct 38 and the upper end ofthe water storage chamber 14.

p-rovided and the upper end of the tube 44 connects with the end of theby-pass duct 43 in the storage chamber 14, and the lower end of the tube44 preferably terminates and opens adjacent the closure and heat boxforming member 16, whereby the cold inlet water `is directed to thewarmest part of the storage chamber 14 adjacent` The housing walls 36also have preferably,v

formed therein a preferably frusto-conical rotary valve seat duct 46extending angularlywith respect to all of the other ducts formed in the`walls 36, and the other end of the intermediate duct 45 and the innerends of the inlet duct 38 and the outlet duct 40 communicatinglyterminate adjacent each other in the valveseat duct 46.

The longitudinal axis of the conical valve seat duct is preferablynormally vertical, and the larger end 4 7 of the frusto-conical valveseat duct ispreferably the lower-end thereof, anda preferably removablewater sealing externally threaded closure 48 is provided for theinternally threaded lower end of the duct 46.

A rotary frusto-conical valve stem 49 rotatably fits and is preferablyspring pressed in sealing abutment with the frusto-conical vvalve seatduct K 46, as by means of a compression spring 50 interposed between thenormally lower larger end of the Valve stem 49 and the normally upperand inner face of the closure 48.

The valve stem 49 has formed transversely therein, a plurality ofcentrally communicating radial duct s51, 52 and 53, and the other endsofthe ducts51, 52, and 53' are adapted for selective connection with theends of the inlet duct 38, the outlet duct 40, and the intermediate duct45 terminating in the valve seat duct 46, whereby, by rotation of thevalve stem 49, the outlet duct maybe entirely shut off from the watersupply and from the storage chamber as illustrated in Fig. 3, or may becommunicatingly connected directly with the intermediate duct for asupply of warm water as indicated in Fig. 4,

or may be communicatingly connected directly with the inlet duct for asupply of cold water, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Y

The upper end of the valvestem 49 extends above the housing 12, andbeyond thenormally upper end of the valve seat duct 46, and an op- Aninlet water'directin'g tube 44 is preferably eratinghandle 54 issecuredupon the upper endv of the stem 49, and latch means. indicatedgen.

erally by 55 are interposed between the handle 54 and the upper end ofthe walls 36, whereby. the valve stem 49 is releasably maintainedineither one of its three selective, positions, after manual rotationltoany of said positions.

I claim:

1. ValveA apparatus including walls having formed therein a plurality ofducts, the ducts including an inlet duct having one end adapted forcommunicating connection with a source offluid and the like, an outletduct having one end adapted for communicating connection witha'A valvecontrolled syringe and the like, an intermediate duct having one endadapted for communication with the interior of a storage chamber and thelike, a valve seat duct, and the other ends ofy the inlet, outlet,` andintermediate ducts communicatingly terminating in the valve seat duct, avalve stem rotatablyi'ltting in the valve seat duct and the valve stemhaving formed transversely therein a plurality of centrallycommunicatingly connecting radial ducts, and the vouter ends of theradial Valve stem ducts being spaced for selective connection some withthe valve duct ends ofthe inletduct andthe outlet duct and some with'the valve ductends of the intermediate duct and the outlet duct.

2. Apparatus for heating uid and the like, including walls forming astorage chamber for the fluid, some of the walls having formed therein aplurality of ducts, the ducts including an inlet duct having one endadapted for communicating connection witha source of the fluid, anoutlet duct having one end adapted for communicating connection with aValvecontrolled syringe and the like, a'by-pa'ss duct communicatinglyconnecting the inletduct with the interior of thel for selectiveconnection some with the valve ductv ends of the inlet duct and the`outletduct and some with the valve duct ends of the intermediate ductand the outlet duct, and means for heating Some of the walls of thestorage chamber.

EDWARD L. MONNOT.

